Projektbeschreibung
Wellenmessungen mit hoher zeitlicher Auflösung zur besseren Bewältigung von Stürmen
Satelliten haben den Bereich der Erdbeobachtung erheblich vorangebracht, indem sie Instrumente beherbergen, die zur Charakterisierung und zu unserem Verständnis der physikalischen, chemischen und biologischen Systeme unserer Erde beitragen. Dank der zunehmenden Verfügbarkeit kleiner und kostengünstiger Satelliten haben wir jetzt die Gelegenheit die Datenerhebung und unser Wissen erheblich auszuweiten. Zur Unterstützung dieser Bemühungen entwickelt das EU-finanzierte Projekt TERAFILT hochempfindliche und kompakte Radiometer für Sensorikanwendungen in der umweltbezogenen Erdbeobachtung. Radiometer messen die Intensität elektromagnetischer Strahlung bestimmter Wellenlängen und Frequenzen wie Mikrowellen, Terahertzfrequenzen oder Infrarotstrahlung. Die neuartigen Radiometer werden mit kleinen Wettersatelliten kompatibel sein und Aktualisierungen in Minuten- statt Stundenabständen ermöglichen, was unsere Fähigkeit erheblich verbessern wird, immer häufiger auftretende extreme Wetterereignisse vorherzusehen und zu bewältigen.
Ziel
This project proposes a new architecture of sub-terahertz (THz) radiometers, which, for the first time, allows to combine high frequency selectivity, high sensitivity and high compactness, intended to be used in Earth-observation environmental sensing applications.
There exists two radiometer detector types: 1) direct-detectors have best-possible sensitivity, but poor frequency selectivity, even when equipped with superconductive filters which require bulky and energy-demanding cryogenic cooling systems; 2) heterodyne-receivers, which are compact and have excellent frequency selectivity, but have inherently inferior signal-to-noise ratio.
The PI, in his ERC CoG, has developed a new terahertz technology enabled by silicon micromachining, and has demonstrated world-record breaking narrow-band filters at sub-THz frequencies (Q=800 at 450 GHz, 1600 at 150 GHz), which, even at room temperature, are superior in performance to state-of-the-art THz filters requiring cryogenic cooling. Furthermore, he has developed a micromachined waveguide switch technology with unprecedented on/off ratio (insertion loss of 0.6 dB, isolation of 50 dB at 220 GHz). These results will be combined for the first time to a new direct-detector based radiometer architecture, enabled by a proposed micromachined switched-filter bank. Such a compact and high-performance radiometer can even be utilized in CubeSat high-density weather-satellite constellations, which are predicted to replace current weather satellites and enable a weather update every 15 minutes as opposed to several hours, which is required for dynamic monitoring for instance the development of severe storms. A proof-of-concept demonstrator for measuring the 183 GHz water line, capable of resolving sub-spectral lines at highest-possible sensitivity, will be implemented and tested in academic and space-industry environment, and appropriate innovation management and exploitation measures are taken in the project.
Wissenschaftliches Gebiet
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringthermodynamic engineering
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementinnovation management
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technology
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrymetalloids
Programm/Programme
Finanzierungsplan
ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum PilotGastgebende Einrichtung
100 44 Stockholm
Schweden